Arsenal were heavily linked with Jonny Evans in the summer, and even more so this winter when Alan Pardew made it clear that the West Brom captain was available for sale this January.
Even the bookies had Arsenal down as odds on to buy Evans, as it is no secret that the Gunners have lost many many points due to defensive errors this season, but it will definitely not be happening, as Pardew said this evening: “I have nothing to complain about, as I stand now I have a good squad and I don’t really want to lose anyone,”
“We do have one player who we think might go out but it’s not Jonny Evans or James McClean.”
Pardew had put Evans up for sale because he needed the funds to get a striker in, as the Baggies have been good defensively but awful in the ‘goals for’ column, but Pardew has managed to get Daniel Sturridge in on loan until the summer, and he is very happy about it! “The cost of Daniel, to perhaps another striker is a lesser cost and puts less risk on us if the worst were to happen and this club gets relegated, because that is the danger we are still in and we can’t take our eye off that,”
Pardew even thinks that Sturridge is one of the best English strikers in the League. “You would have to put Sturridge in the same category as Harry Kane,” Pardew said. “Harry has had a great spell in terms of fitness and is at the top of his game, and I think that’s understandable that he’s probably ahead of Daniel.
“But Daniel has the potential, particularly against teams where you need goals and you need to break them down, he has individual flair that not many players can match. So if we can get him fit and anywhere near his best, then I’m pretty sure Gareth (Southgate) will be taking a close look.”
So he sounds happy, but what about Arsenal fans? Given the problems we have had in defence this season, and the age of best back line, what do we think about Wenger not getting in a defender in January, or do you think he may have a surprise up his sleeve?
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